Smallest and Lowest Power Cortex Processors

The Arm Cortex-M processor family is a range of scalable, energy efficient and easy-to-use processors that meet the needs of tomorrow’s smart and connected embedded applications. The processors are supported by the world’s #1 embedded ecosystem and have already been shipped in tens of billions of devices. Cortex-M processors help developers deliver more features, in less time, at a lower cost, with versatile connectivity, comprehensive code reuse, standard security and state of the art energy efficiency.

Arm Cortex-M Offers

Cortex-M0, Cortex M0+, and Cortex-M23 for applications requiring minimal cost, power and area

Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4, and Cortex-M33 for all applications where a balance between 32-bit performance and energy efficiency is desirable

Cortex-M7 is designed for embedded applications requiring high performance

The Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 include Arm TrustZone technology for solutions that require optimized, efficient security.

The Arm Cortex-M4, Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 processors integrate Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and floating point operations for fast and power-efficient algorithm processing of digital signal control applications such as sensor fusion, motor control and power management.

Performance efficiency

Highest performance

License for No Upfront Fee

Instant, simple access to evaluate proven Arm IP

Arm DesignStart provides the fastest, simplest, no-risk route to proven IP for custom silicon success – so you can design with confidence and get to market quicker. Create a custom SoC with the industry-leading Cortex-M0 and Cortex-M3 processors and system IP, for no upfront license fee, just a success-based royalty model.

Cortex-M characteristics

The Arm Cortex-M processors utilize Arm Thumb-2 technology to offer superior code density compared to 8-bit,16-bit and fixed 32-bit architectures, reducing the memory requirements to maximize the usage of precious on-chip Flash memory. Thumb-2 technology supports a fundamental base of 16-bit Thumb instructions, extended to include more powerful 32-bit instructions. In many cases, a C compiler will use the 16-bit version of the instruction unless the operation can be carried out more efficiently using a 32-bit version.

Compact data footprint, with support for 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit data transfers

Fast and power-efficient algorithm processing with DSP extensions in Cortex-M4, Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33

The Armv8-M based Cortex-M processors also include TrustZone technology. TrustZone has been proven as a security foundation in billions of devices. TrustZone for the Cortex-M profile has been optimized for microcontroller class devices offering deterministic real-time interrupt response, low power and a small area with fast cross-domain calls.

Processors of choice

Arm Cortex-M processors are the most popular choice for embedded applications, licensed to over 350 Arm partners and supported by the world’s #1 embedded ecosystem with the widest third-party tools, RTOS and middleware support of any architecture. Using a standard processor within a design allows Arm partners to create devices with a consistent base, enabling them to focus on creating superior device implementations.

Cortex-M System Design Kit

To enable faster design cycles and time to market, Arm has created the Cortex-M System Design Kit (CMSDK), a comprehensive solution designed to work with Cortex-M processors out-of-the-box. It includes:

A selection of Arm AMBA AHB and APB infrastructure components

Essential peripherals such as GPIO, timers, watchdog, and UART

Example systems for Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 processors

Compilation and simulation scripts for the Verilog environment

Software drivers and example programs

A comprehensive solution for embedded designs

A growing number of fabless semiconductor companies are designing silicon around Arm Cortex-M processors for the first time, bringing the benefits of an efficient, easy-to-use, standard architecture to their end customers. With CMSDK and a Cortex-M processor, you can integrate a processing subsystem in to your product quickly, effectively and with minimum risk.

Cortex-M applications

The Cortex-M family is optimized for cost and power-sensitive MCU and mixed-signal SoCs for applications including:

Content not available

Important Information for the Arm website. This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our cookies. If you are not happy with the use of these cookies, please review our Cookie Policy to learn how they can be disabled. By disabling cookies, some features of the site will not work.